Iveco prepare for Dakar Rally 2013

Iveco has announced that they are preparing to compete at Dakar 2013 (the world’s premiere off-road rally) with a squad of five rally trucks. The 15-day Dakar challenges teams over some of South America’s most difficult terrain. The Dakar race is open to amateur and professional entries. The 2013 South American endurance route will see racers make their way through Peru, Argentina, and  Chile. The race will be viewed by millions of people from 190 countries.

Dakar represents a great opportunity for Iveco to test the performance and reliability of its products over some of the most extreme off-road conditions any vehicle will ever face. Each of its trucks will be put to the test in extraordinary circumstances as they cross three of South America’s largest countries, with the rally being held over more than 8,000 kilometres.

Current Dakar champion Team De Rooy will drive one Iveco Powerstar and four Iveco New Trakkers along the route which starts in Peru, before crossing through Argentina and ending in Chile. Team De Rooy and Iveco will face this exciting and extreme race together, defending their impressive victory in 2012. A filmmaker will accompany him, recording a Dakar-Iveco documentary about the race, vehicles and drivers along with behind-the-scenes footage from the team’s camp.

Daily updates will be available on a special Iveco website which is live now, showing the latest race results and performance stats for Team De Rooy. Photos and video footage sent from South America will also be posted online. Please click here to view the Iveco trucks that will be participating and to view a countdown to the rally’s start.

The rally will begin in Lima and cover a total of 8,000 km in 14 stages between January 5 and 20, 2013. This is one race you don't want to miss, so mark your calendars.